Apparatus for testing cans for leakage



Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY- 2.433.0 APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944- 14 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY v APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 v 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 E 9% I m H T "i lm i Lwiullliw wl mmj m m l hm .r... H

- 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 H. QGRAY APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 Dec. 23, 1947. Y H, c, G 2.4311043 I v APPARATUS FQR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 Illllllll' Dec. 23, 1947;

H. C. GRAY Filed Dec. 21, 1944 1Z6 Jlf J11 6' 9 485% J 5? ln 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Biz? 2J4 -JJ' J93 I 3mm Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 J a a M P 4 1 M 6 J J a M M M r// \l .1 M E a a T n 0 m, M M v n n H M m Q h. u: E I i T- llrllllwjll W l... l I I l I ll 1. m I H H I111: J 11 LIP. lwlllihfirtrludfihvflqlilul I I 1 i 6 JJ 3 r MN] 1 J a. 1 m A A A fl u: n B 5 .1 I 9 2 "M u a J 2 u 3 i u 1 MW 7 1 1 1/; J 1

Dec. 23, 1947.

c. GRAY 2.433.043

APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed 'Dec, 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed c. GRAY 2,433,043

Dec. 21. 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY APPARATUS FOR TESTING C ANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Deb. 21. 1944 14Sheets-Sheet 11 M 6 QNW W m M L gm m fim m w MN. ww w NQN Qmw. 2N W T M m$% X Tu *NW r new mWW n .wQw P WW T Wfi 4 WNW Na. www Rm Dec. 23, 1947. H. c; GRAY 2.433.043

APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 14 Shets-Sheet l2 lflllllllla 28;? v 26" I w lli mm: w

I Dec. 23, 1947. c, Y 2,433,043

APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE Filed Dec. 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 Dec. 23, 1947. H. c. GRAY APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR LEAKAGE ,F'iled Dec. 21, 1944 14 Sheets-Sheet l4 Patented Dec. 23, 1947 OFFICE APPARATUS FOR TESTING CANS FOR l LEAKAGE Harry 0. Grayp Chicago, Ill., assignor to Continental Cani.Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporationof-New York i Application December 21, 1944, Serial No. 569,210

g 22 Claims. (01. 73-43) This invention relates to apparatus for testing cans for leaks and for separating imperfect or leaky cans from perfect or non eaky cans.

In Patents 1,815,522, ONeil all, and 1,815,523 ONeil, there are disclosed m hiiies for testing cans for leaks wherein a c "eing tested is enclosed in a testing cham he open end of the can is sealed, and the at ior of the can is subjected to air under pre e. If the can leaks, the compressed air es'c s into a space between the outside of the can and the testing chamber and acts directly on a column of electrically conducting fluid to close or open an electric circuit. The electric circuit includes means for operating an elector which separates leaky cans from non-leaky cans.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus of this general class in which the compressed air which escapes through a leaky can acts on a dlsplaceable mechanical member, displacement of which controls the operation of the means which separates the leaky cans from the non-leaky cans.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described in which the mechanical member, upon being displaced by the leakingair, acts on a body of fluid, e. g., a column of electrically conducting liquid for controlling the operation of the can separating means.

Another object of the invention is to increase the sensitivity or accuracy of the testing equipment.

The invention may be embodied in machines constructed and equipped to receive cans from a source of continuous supply and to deliver or feed the cans in properly spaced relationship to a movable testing assembly, e. g., a turret provided with a plurality of testing units adapted to test the cans in a continuous succession. After having been tested, the cans, Whether good or bad, are passed on to a. discharge mechanism which may include a take-off turret and dis'- charge conveyor. Associated with or forming part of each testing unit is means for applying air pressure within the can being tested and a mechanical device which responds to any leaking I of air from the'can being tested for setting up a conditioning mechanism for actuating a gate or rejecter device to operate whenv the leaky can arrives at the rejecter device so as to prevent the leaky can from being passed on to the discharge conveyor. Thus, all good or nonleaky cans pass from the testing turret to the take-off turret and thence to the dischargecon- 2 veyor, whereas leaky cans are delivered from the testing turret to the take-off turret but are deflected or shunted off from the testing turret so as not to be delivered to the discharge conveyor. Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for timing the delivery of cans to a turret which forwards cans to be tested.

Another object. of the inventionis to provide apparatus o f .the; character stated including new and improved means for effecting transfer of provedmech nism r resiliently holding a, can being testedfi with its 'pen end in sealing engagement with a sealing cad.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kind referred to in which a locking device holds a sealing head in contact with the open endof a can being tested and the 4 open end of a testing chamber so as to insure that the parts will be held in air-tight sealed relation during testing.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for effecting transfer of the tested cans from the testing turret to the take-ofi turret.

Another object of the invention is to provide can-diverting mechanism for diverting or rejecting a leaky can from the take-oil turret.

A further object of the invention is to provide can-diverting mechanism of the kind referred to which, although operable upon cans being transported by the take-oil turret, is controlled by testing equipment carried by the testing turret.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the fac companying drawing-s. i

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan-"view of apparatus embodying the invention with some parts being omitted.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown .in Figure 1/ with some parts omitted and others shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view on an. enlarged scale showing can timing or spacing mechanism, a feed-in turret, and parts of a testing turret-.-

Figure 4'is an enlarged scale elevational view showing a belt and roller structure for feeding cans to the feed-in turret as viewed when lookingin section.

Figure is a vertical section on an enlarged scale and showing contiguous portions of a feedin turret, testing turret and mechanism carried by the testing turret.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a testing turret showing equipment for deliveringcompressed air to cans being tested, the section being taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a testing unit drawn on a greatly enlarged scale.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail section showing a testing unit diaphragm and mounting parts therefor separated.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a testing turret and associated electrical equipment for operating mechanism to set a gate in position to divert a leaky can.

Figure 11 is an enlarged top plan view of a take-off turret and a discharge conveyor chain.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section on the line I2-I2 of Figure 11 drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 13 is a, detail top plan view of a gate operating cam.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line I2--I2 of Figure 11.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a locking block and toggle lever.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary elevation showing electrical equipment for operating the leaky can rejecter gate.

Figure 17 is an electrical wiring diagram, and

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic showingof driving gearing.

General arrangement In the illustrative embodiment of the invention cans X are delivered in any suitable manner to the feed-in mechanism A which comprises two vertically spaced belts I having stretches I spaced from and parallel to a set of guide rollers 2. The belt stretches I contact the cans X and feed them in the direction of the arrow 4 in Figure 3 so as to deliver them individually into pockets 3 on a feed-in turret 4 which rotates in the direction of the arrow a (Figure 1).

The testing turret B rotates in the direction of the arrow b (Figure 1) and is equipped with a plurality of circumferentially spaced testing units generally designated 5. Each of the testing units includes a can support or pad 6 mounted for vertical reciprocation in a testing chamber 1. When a testing unit 5 is positioned to receive a can from the feed-in turret 4 the support 6 is elevated sothat its top surface is approximately at or level with the top of the chamber I as shown in Figure 5. A can X is delivered by the turret 4 to the support 6 and the support then moves down to position the can within the chamber as shown in Figure '7. A sealing head 8 is applied in sealing relation to both the top of the chamber I and the can therein, and air under pressure is introduced through a duct 9 to subject the interior of the can to fluid pressure. If the can is imperfect the compressed air will leak out into the space I0 between the can and the walls of the testing chamber 1 and will be conducted through a passage II to a pressure responsive detector unit generally designated I2 which controls the separation of the leaky cans from the non-leaky cans.

4 All tested cans, whether leaky or non-leaky, are delivered to a take-off mechanism C which includes a take-off turret I3 rotatable in the direction of the arrow 0 in Figure 1, which in turn delivers good cans to a discharge conveyor chain I4. Leaky cans, however, are deflected by a gate D positioned adjacent the turret I3 for separating leaky cans from non-leaky cans. The gate D normally is set to permit cans to go on around with the turret l3 to be delivered to the conveyor I4. When a can leaks during testing, the associated detector unit I2 is so conditioned that when it arrives at a housing E containing electrical control equipment, a circuit is closed to energize a solenoid F. Ener izing of the solenoid F conditions mechanism carried by the turret I3 for operating the gate D to reject the leaky can when it arrives at the gate.

The parts may all be carried on a base l5, as shown in Figure 2.

Feed-in mechanism The feed-in turret 4 comprises upper and lower sections 4- and 4 secured to a vertical shaft I6 mounted to rotate in bearings I'I carried by a frame I8 supported on the main base I5. A gear I9 driven in a manner to be described later is fixed to the lower end of the shaft I6. The frame I8 includes a table 20 on which the cans rest while being carried around in the pockets 3 of the turret 4.

For mounting and operating the belts I, a shaft 2| is journaled in a bracket 22 and is equipped with vertically spaced pulleys 23. A shaft 24 (Figure 3) journaled in a bracket 25 is equipped with vertically spaced pulleys 26 respectively at the same levels as the pulleys 23 so that one belt I may be passed around each pair of coplanar pulleys 23-26. Fast with the shaft 2| is a gear 21 which meshes with a gear 28 rotatable on a stub shaft 29. A pulley 30 fixed to the gear 28 is engaged by a belt 3i which passes around a pulley 32 fast with the shaft I6. Thus driving of the shaft I6 causes the turret 4 to rotate and also drives the belts I through the medium of the pulley 32, belt 3I,'pulley 3|], gears 28 and 21, shaft 2I, and pulleys 23.

The frame I8 (Figure 4) is equipped with a bracket 33 formed with upper and lower flanges 34 and 35 mounting the rollers 2 in upper and lower sets to provide guides disposed in spaced relation to and parallel to the belt stretches I -I In operation, cans X fed between the belt stretches I and the rollers 2 are forwarded to the pockets 3 of the feed-in turret 4. The cans rest upon the table 20 and are carried thereover in a circular path by rotation of the turret 4.

It is desirable to regulate the delivery of the cans X to the turret pockets 3 so as to assure that the cans will not crowd each other as they approach the turret 4. Accordingly mechanism is provided for spacing the cans and timing their delivery so that a single can is forwarded by the belts I at the instant a turret pocket 3 arrives in can receiving position. In the mechanism shown an interceptor roller 36 is mounted on a vertical rod 31 attached by a nut 38 to a horizontal interceptor bar 39 mounted to slide in a bearing sleeve 40. A collar 4| secured to the rod 39 is reciprocable within the sleeve 40 and is pressed toward the right as viewed in Figure 4 by a, spring 42 surrounding the rod 39 and interposed between the collar 4| and an end closure 43 screwed on the left hand end of the sleeve 40. Movement of the bar 39 under the actior aeaaoea of the spring 42 is limited by engagement of the collar 4l with a flange 46" at the right hand end of the sleeve 46. When the rod 39 is in its extreme right hand position the "roller 36 will be projected into the path of cans moving between the belt stretches l and the rollers 2. In this position the roller 36 holds back a can positioned in advance of the roller while the preceding can is carried forward by the belts I for delivery to the feed-in turret 4.

In order momentarily to withdraw the roller 36 so as to permit the next can to be carried on by the belts l the bar 39 is equipped with spaced collars 44 and 45 (Figure 3) which lie on opposite sides of fingers 46 formed on one arm of a lever 46 pivoted as at 41, the other arm 48 of the lever being provided with a cam follower roller 49 which engages a cam 56. The cam 50 is rotatable with the shaft l6 and is formed with a plurality of operating parts or lobes In operation, when a cam lobe 5| engages the roller 49 the lever 46 is rocked clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 so as to move the bar 39 to the left and withdraw the roller 36 from in front of the can X which previously was held back by the roller 36. This permits the can to be forwarded by the belts I toward the point of delivery to the turret 4. The operative cam lobe 5! will move away from the roller 49 before the released can has moved completely past the roller 36. Consequently, the spring 42 will tend to return the bar 39 and roller 36 into can blocking position. However, the roller 36 will engage the side of the can so as to be held back in retracted position until the released can has moved past the roller 36. Then the spring 42 will move the bar 39 quickly so as to place the roller 36 in intercepting position in front of the next can, holding the latter stationary until the released can has been delivered to the feed-in turret 4. It will be apparent that this cycle of operation goes on continuously so as periodically to check the movement of the stream of cans, releasing one can at a time for delivery to the feed-in turret, and thereby avoiding crowding and jamming which would be apt to occur if a continuous streamof cans were fed toward the feed-in turret.

The cans beingucarried around by the feed-in turret 4 are held in the pockets 3 by means of an arcuate guide 52 fixed to the table 20. The guide 52 terminates in a yieldable arm 53 pivoted at 54 and'being held in the normal position shown in Figure 3 by means of a spring 55. The rocking of the arm 53 under the urge of the spring 55 is limited by a nut 56 carried by a fixed stud 51. As each can is delivered to a testing unit 5 on the turret B the arm 53 yields and rocks clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 so as to permit the can to move with th testing unit and out of the pocket 3 on the feed-in turret 4.

The illustrated construction is adapted for handling cans of generally oblong or substantially rectangular shape. In order to. facilitate tangential removal of the cans from the pockets 3 the latter are formed with spaced can end contacting portions 3 -3 and with projections 3 intermediate therportions 3 for contacting the radially innermost side Walls of cans in the pockets. This provides for three point contact between the cans and the feed-in turret and enables the cans to be tilted relatively to the pockets 3 so that the cans can be removed tangentially from the feed-in turret after being deposited on the supports 6.

Testing turret The testing turret B is mounted to rotate on a frame 59 supported on the base l5. As shown in Figure 6, bolts 59 secure a bearing post 66 to the top of the frame 58. The bearing post 66 serves to mount an antifriction hanger bearing 6| which supports and journals a turret spider a, 62. The spider 62 is formed with a hub 63 which receives the outer race 64 of the bearing II. The bearing racei 64 is held in place in the hub 63 by a ring 65 which is secured to the hub 68 by any suitable means (not shown). Secured to the ring'65 by means not shown is a valve disc or plate 66 formed with a plurality of ports in communicating respectively with radial passages 69 terminating in fittings 69. The fittings II are connected respectively to flexible hose II which lead to the testing units 5. Mounted on top of the valve plate 66 is a manifold plate II which is held against the valve plate 66 by a plurality of springs one of whichds shown at 12. The springs 12 are interposed between the manifold plate ii and a collar 13 held on the bearing post 66 by'nuts 14 and a, shim 15. The manifold plate H is formed with an arcuate port 16,

as shown in Figures 1, 6, and 10, adapted to register with the valve plate ports 6'! during rotation of the valve plate 66 while the manifold plate II is held stationary by a key 18 which permits the manifold plate H to move axially pr vertically but prevents it from'rotating on the post 66. Compressed air ,is supplied to the opposite ends of the arcuate port 16 by means of inlet pipesv Formed integrally with the arms of the spider 62 is a ring I9 depending from which are circumferentially spaced vertically extending arms 80 the lower ends of which are fast with a ring 8| surrounding the frame 59. The ring 8| has a, portion of its inner vertical face formed as a circular trackway engaging rollers 82 journaled on brackets 83 supported on the frame 58. The rollers 32 cooperate with the trackway for steadying thecturret B as it rotates about the bearing post 50. I

Another portion of the ring 8| is formed as an internal gear 84 which meshes with a gear 85 (Figure 2) secured to the top of a shaft 86 journaled in bearings 81 on the frame 58. A gear 88 secured to the lower end of the shaft 66 is adapted to be driven in a manner later to be described for rotating the shaft 86, gear 95, and the turret B.

The walls of the testing chambers l conform generally to the shape of the cans to be tested but the chambers are sufliciently larger than the cans to provide the air space H) previously referred to. The chambers l are open at their upper ends where they are flared as at 96 (Figure 5) to facilitate introduction of the cans into are mounted in pressure sealed relation on the ring 8| by packing 9| (Figure '7) held in 'place by retaining rings 92 in turn held down by clampv ing rings 93. i

Operating means is provided for raising the can pads 6 for receiving the cans, for-lowering them into the testing chambers, for applying the sealing heads8 to the cans and chambers, and for then lifting the sealing heads and moving the tested cans upwardly for being removed from the testing turret B sIn the form shown there is provided in connectionmith each testing unit a rod 94 mounted to reciprocate verticarries a sealing head 8.

eally in bearings 95-95 carried respectively by the turret rings 19 and 8|. A follower roller 96 iournaled on each rod 94 is operable in a. cam track 91 supported on the frame 58 and extending partially around the latter. An arm 98 secured to the rod- 94 is formed with an apertured boss 99 which receives for vertical adjustment a threaded stem I00, the lower end of which Nuts IM and I02 screwed on the stem I and engaging the top and bottom faces respectively of the boss 99 secure the rod I00 in adjusted position on the arm 98. The boss 99 may be split so as to be drawn tightly into contact with the stem I00 by means of a bolt I03 for more securely locking thestem I00 in adjusted position. The head 8 may be held on the bottom of the associated rod I00 by a collar I04 welded to the rod I00 and being secured in any suitable manner to the head 8, a fiber sealing washer I preferably being interposed between the collar I04 and the head 8. A passage I06 in the head 8 communicates with the duct 9 in the stem I00 and provides for the introduction of air under pressure into the can X. As shown in Figure '7 a rubber sealing ring I01 carried by the head 8 is adapted to engage both the can X and the chamber 1 when the can is in readiness for testing.

At the bottom of each rod 94 is an arm I08 provided with a vertically extending bearing I09 which mounts for reciprocation a sliding rod III) which extends through a bearing I09 in the ring 8I. A pad or can support 6 is secured to the top of each rod IIO by a screw III and washers II2. A pin II3 fixed to the arm I08 projects through a vertically extending slot II4 formed in the rod IIO. A spring II1 coiled around the rod I I0 is interposed between the arm I08 and a collar II5 secured to the rod H0. The spring II1 acts as a yleldable driving connection between the rods 94 and H0 and urges the rod I I0 and can support 6 to move upwardly with respect to the rod 94, the relative upward movement of the rod IIO being limited by engagement of the pin II3 with the lower end of the slot II4.

Preferably the head 6 is peripherally recessed to provide a seat II8 adapted to receive the rolled bottom seam II9 of the can to be tested and to permit the bottom of 'the can to rest upon the central portion of the head 6. The seat H8 and downwardly projecting seam II9 cooperate to prevent lateral movement of the can off the seat. The head is equipped with two permanent magnets I20 (Figure 9) which hold the can on the pad 6 until the can is forcibly removed from the pad by the can take-off mechanism 0.

In operation, when a testing unit 5 approaches the point at which it will receive a can X to be tested the pad 6 will be in its uppermost position as shown in Figure 5. When the can is moved off the table 20 by rotation of the turret 4 it will slide onto the pad 6 to be held thereon by the magnets I20. As the turrets 4 and B continue to rotate the arm 53 will yield and rock clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 to permit the can to move on with the pad 6. As the turret B rotates the roller 96 will follow the cam track 91 so as to move the associated rod 94 downwardly, thereby lowering the sealing head 8 and the arm I08 at the bottom of the rod 94. During the first part of this downward movement of the rod 94 the spring II1 will hold the collar I I5, the rod I10, and the pad 6 up in their Figure 5 positions. The can X therefore will not move downwardly during the initial downward move- 8 ment of the head 8 and the head will thus be moved into engagement with the top of the can X. Thereafter continued downward movement of the rod 94 will cause the head 8, the can, the can support 6, and the rod IIO to move downwardly in unison until finally the sealing ring I01 on the head 8 engages the top of the chamber 1. At this time the parts will be in the positions shown in Figure '7 and they will be held in these positions while the turret B travels through a considerable angle of distance during which the can is tested. The cam track 91 does not extend completel around the frame 58 and therefore it is necessary to provide means for holding the head 8 down in its Figure 7 position after the cam roller 96 moves off the cam track 91. Secured to each rod 94 is a toggle block I2I formed with a curved seat I22 extending between high points I23 and I24 as shown in Figure 15. Mounted between adjacent arms on opposite sides of each rod 94 is a bracket I25 which journals a rock shaft I26 as shown in Figures 3 and 15. Fast to each rock shaft I26 are rock arms I21 and I28. Each rock arm I21 carries a roller I29 engageable with vertically spaced auxiliary cams I39 and I3I. When the rod 94 has moved all the way down and the head 8 has engaged the chamber 1 the auxiliary cam follower roller I29 engages the top cam I3I so as to rock the shaft I26 clockwise as viewed in Figure 15. Upon such rocking of the shaft-a roller I32 carried by the arm I28 moves to locking position in which it is received by the curved seat I22 on the block I2l. In order to move onto the seat I 22 the roller has to be forced slightly to override the high point I24 which thereafter prevents accidental reverse rocking of the arm I28. The arm I28 thus acts as a toggle or holding device for maintaining the rod 94 in its lowermost position after the roller 96 has moved off the portion of the .cam track 91 which effected lowering of the rod 94. This insures that the head 8 will be held firmly down upon the chamber 1 so that the latter will be sealed tightly during testing.

After the testing operation has been performed the roller I32 must be moved forcibly off the seat I22 in order to permit the rod 94 to be raised so that the tested can may be lifted from the chamber 1 and delivered to the take-oil turret I3. Removal of the roller I32 from the seat I22 is effected by engagement of the roller I29 with the bottom cam I30 which rocks the arms I21 and I28 counterclockwise to the dotted line position shown in Figure 15. The roller I32 will be moved from the seat I22 after the cam roller 96 has re-entered the cam track 91. Thereafter the roller 96 will be raised by another portion of the cam track 91 so as to lift the rod 94 and raise the head 8 and the can support 6. Near the end of the upward movement of the rod 94 the collar II5 will engage the bottom of the turret ring 8| which will act as a stop for arresting the rod I I0 with the pad 6 in the position shown in Figure 5, which is its normal or can receiving and can discharging position.

When the container support or pad 6 is moved downwardly within the chamber 1 the air trapped under the pad 6 should be exhausted freely from the chamber 1 in order to prevent the trapping of air which would act as a cushion by producing a dashpot effect which would oppose rapid lowering of the pad 6. Inasmuch as the pad 6 is lowered rather rapidly the exhausting of air through the space between the periphery of the pad and the chamber 1. As shown in Figure 9 the ring M is formed with an exhaust passage 133 leading from the bottom ofthe chamber 1 to a valve seat I34 controlled by an exhaust valve element I35 yieldably urged to closed position by a spring I36. The valve element I35 is carried by a stem I31 mounted to slide in a guide sleeve I38 fitted in the ring 8|. The lower end of the rod I31 is provided with a collar I39 which has a pin I40 extending with clearance into an opening in the end of a lever I4I pivoted as at I42 (Figure 16) on a web I43 sure which leaks through a can being tested and enters the passage I I will pass through the cross passage I51, the tube I59, and the passage III,

turn causes operation of the deflector gate D.

A tube I62 formed of insulating material is mounted in the switch casing I5I and is held in place by an insulating screw sleeve I63. The upa per end of the tube I62 is formed with a chamextending down from the ring 8|. The other end i of the lever MI is equipped with a roller I44 arranged to cooperate with a cam I45 on the frame 58.

In operation, when one of the rods 84 starts moving downwardly the associated roller I44 engages the cam I45 so as to rock the lever I H and move the valve I35 downwardly away from the seat I34, thereby opening the exhaust passage I33 and venting the chamber 1, thus permitting the pad 6 to .be lowered without having to work against air entrapped in the chamber 1. The contour of the cam I45 is such that when the pad 6 has been moved to its lowermost posi- After the testing has been completed and in order to permit air to enter the bottom of the chamber I freely when the pad 6 is being raised the cam I45 operates the roller I44 to open the valve I35. Thus the cam I45 is so shaped as to cause the valve I35 to be held open during both lowering and raising of the pad 6 but to be held closed during the testing operation when the pad is in its lower position.

Each hose 10 previously referred to is fitted over a tubular end I46 at the top of the stem I00 of one of the testing units 5. Thus when the associated port 61 registers with the arcuate manifold 16 air under pressure will be supplied through the duct 8 of that unit 5. At this time the can X being tested will be in the position shown in her I82 which receives a finger member or contact part I64 carried by and extending downwardly from a conducting plug. I 65 inserted in the insulating sleeve I63. The lower end of the tube I62 is formed with a passage I66 which extends from the chamber I62 to a vertical passage I61 formed in the switch casing I5l. A1ateral passage I68 provides communication between the vertical passage I61 and the space between the diaphragm I55 and the boss I54. The vertical passage I61 extends downwardly past the lat-' eral passage I68 to communicate with a chamber I 63 closed at its lower end by a threaded adjust- 111$.P1l1g I10 the bottom portion of which is formed as a smooth rod I1I extending through packing I12 held in place by a gland nut I13. A knurled head I14 on the bottom of the rod portion "I provides for turning of the screw plug I10 to vary the volume or capacity of the cham- Figure 7. The sealing ring I01 will be in engagcment with the flared end 80 of the chamber 1 and with the outwardly turned top end I41 of the can being tested. If the can is not leaky the compressed air will be confinedto the can itself. If, however, the can is leaky compressed air will flow into the space I0 between the can and the chamber 1 and thence down under the head 6 and into the passage II to the pressure responsive detector I2.

Each detector unit I2 is carried by a'bracket I48 secured to the ring 8| by bolts I48 as shown in Figure 10. Formed integrally with each bracket I48 is a pad I50 which mounts a liquid switch casing ISI. 1 Each pad I50 is-formed with one leg of a U-shaped tube I59, the other leg of which is connected to a fitting I60 at the end of a passage I6I in the pad I50. Air under presber I69.

The space between the diaphragm I55 and the boss I54, the passages I68, I61, and I66, and the chamber I69 are filled with a conducting liquid I15 which extends up into the chamber I62! normally to a level just tact finger I64.

In operation, if a can leaks-air under pressure will deflect the diaphragm I55 in the manner previously described so as to raise the fluid column in the chamber I62 whereupon the fluid will I make contact with the finger I64. This closes an electrical circuit which operates the mechanism in the housing E for bringing about operation of the reiecter gate D.

The control housing E encloses conventional relays or other suitable electrical control equipment which when energized acts to close a circuit through conductors I16 leading to the solenoid F. The relay or other electrical equipment within the housing E is actuated in response to arrival at the housing E of a testing unit 5 carrying a leaky can. As shown in Figures 10 and I6 the housing E supports a bracket I 11 on which I8I is grounded through the metallic switch cas-" ing I5I andvthe brush I is connected by a conductor I82 to the plug I65 which, as previously stated, mounts the contact member I64. The

conducting liquid I15, of course, is grounded by its contact with the switch casing I5I and diaphragm I55. Conductors I83 and I84 lead respectively from the bars I18 and I18 into the control housing E. Conductors I85 lead from opposite sides of a power supply line I86 into the housing E. As previously stated the electrical below the bottom of the conequipment mounted in the housing E is of a conventional nature and therefore it is not illustrated specifically. However, Figure 17 does show diagrammatically the ultimate connections made effective by operation of the equipment in the housing E. Connections within the housing and which are of a permanent nature, that 'is, are in efiect at all times, are shown in full lines in Figure 17, it being understood that suitable relays; contactors, or the like, are appropriately inserted in the connections I83 and I84 shown in full lines. The connection I16 indicated by the dotted line is made efiective when the testing unit carrying a leaky can moves up adjacent the housing E,

In operation, when a testing unit moves alongside the housing E the brushes I88 and I8I will make contact with the bars I18 and I19. If

the can carried by that particular testing unit 5 is not leaky the fluid- I15 will be down and not in contact with the contact part I54 so that no circuit will be completed through the conductors I83 and I84. Consequently, the connection I16 indicated by the dotted line in Figure 1'1 will not be made effective and the solenoid F will not,

be energized. If. however, the can carriedby a testing unit 5 has a leak the conducting fluid I15 will be displaced by deflection of the diaphragm I55 so as to make contact with the member. I64 when the brushes I88 and I8I are in engagement with the bars I18 and I19. Consequently, a circuit will be completed through the conductors I83 and I84 shown in full lines within the housing E causing the dotted line connection I16 to be made effective so that the solenoid F will be energized. Energizing of the solenoid F conditions mechanism carried by the turret I3 to actuate the gate D for rejecting the leaky can when it arrives at the gate as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

Can take-01f and leaky can reiecter mechanism The can take-off mechanism which comprises broadly the turret I3 and the discharge conveyor chain I4 is mounted on a frame I81. A vertical shaft I88 is journaled on the frame I81 by a bearing I89 near the top end of the shaft I88 and by any suitable bearing (not shown) at the lower end of the shaft. The shaft I88 is equipped with a gear 288, shown in Figure 18, adapted to be driven in a manner to be described later so as to rotate the turret I3 in the direction of the arrow 0 (Figures l and 11).

The turret I3 comprises a lower section 28I keyed to the shaft I88 as at 282. Pocket members 283 secured to the lower turret section 28I are spaced circumfereptially about the shaft I88 so as to receive tested cans from the testing turret B. The turret lower section 2! is formed with a plurality of vertically bored bosses 284 which mount rods 285 respectively for vertical sliding movement normal to the plane of rotation of the turrets. The rods 285 are held against rotation in the bosses 284 by splines 288. The lower end of each rodis equipped with a horizontal pin 281 which mounts a cam follower roller 288 adapted to run on a cam track 289 flxed to the frame I81. Adjustably secured on each rod 285 above the associated boss 284 is a vertically movable turret top section 2I8 which is keyed to the associated rod 285 as at 2| I and is held in vertically adjusted position by a set screw 2I2. The top turret sections 2I8 are formed with pockets '2I3 aligned respectively with the pockets in the lower turret pocket members 283. The pockets 2I3 in the top turret sections 2I8 are so shaped as to partially embrace a can X and to extend under the upper laterally projecting end portion I41 of the can. Thus, when a pair of pockets 2 I 3-283 moves into position to receive a can from the testing turret B the top section 2I8 will embrace the side walls of the can adjacent its upper end but will lie under the can flared end I41 so that when the associated rod 285 is lifted by the action of the cam 289 on the roller 288 the top turret section 2I8 will connect with the can flared end I41 and will lift the can directly away from the pad or support 6 until the double rolled seam H9 at the bottom of the can is moved out of the pad recess II8. This permits the can subsequently to be moved horizontally away from the pad or support 8. As the turret I3 rotates, the can just removed from the turret B will be suspended by engagement of the can flared end I41 with the top turret section 2I8. The lower turret pocket section 283 will embrace the can so as to hold it steady. The can will be held against movement out of the pocket members 283 and 2I8 by means of a fixed guide 2I4, the gate D, and a fixed guide 2I5. When the can has been moved over the discharge chain I4 the cam track 289 will move the roller 288 downwardly to lower the rod 285 and top cam section 2I8 so as to deposit the can on the chain I4.

The discharge conveyor chain I4 is passed around and driven by a sprocket 2 l5 mounted on a shaft 2". The chain also passes around a front idler sprocket 2I8 rotatable on a stub shaft 2I9 and a rear idler sprocket 228 rotatable on a stub shaft 22I. For driving the sprocket 2I6 a bevel gear 222 secured to the shaft 2I1 meshes with a bevel gear 223 secured to the shaft I88 which drives the turret I3. Thus the chain I4 is driven in time with the turret I3 so as to discharge cans at a rate corresponding to the rate of'delivery by the turret I3. Cans being carried by the chain I4 move between the guide 2 I 5 previously referred to and a parallel guide 224 on the opposite side of the chain.

It will be understood that normally, 1. e., in the forwarding of good or non-leaky cans, the gate D will be in the position shown in Figures 1 and 11 wherein it serves merely as a guide interposed between the fixed guides 2I4 and 2I5. The turret I3 ,carries actuating mechanism responsive to; movement of the diaphragm I55 and adapted to be conditioned by operation of the solenoid F for moving the gate in a manner to cause it to divert a leaky can before the can is carried as far as the guide H5. in the form shown the gate operating mechanism includes a rotor 225 secured to the shaft I88 below the bearing I89. Associated with each pair of take-off turret sections 283-2 I 8 are actuators comprising two vertical pins 226 and 221 mounted to reciprocate in bearings 228 and 229 respectively. The axes of both pins 226 and 221 are normal to a radius oif the turret I3 bisecting the associated turret sections 283-2I8.

The pins 226 and 221 are formed respectively at their upper ends with heads 238 and 23I andat their lower ends are-provided with racks 232 and 233. A pinion 234 interposed between and meshing with both racks of each pair of pins 226--221 is journaled on a web 235 depending from the rotor 225. Each outer pin 226 carries a block 236 which mounts a cam follower roller 231 adapted to move over and engage a setting cam 238 for raising the outer pin 226 and to move under and engage a re-setting cam 239 for lowering the outer pins. It will be apparent that 

